Removable mold assembly with quick change mechanism

ABSTRACT

A continuous-casting mold support frame which has engageable and disengageable means for connecting a guide roll rack thereto to enable the latter to be quickly and easily removed and replaced. A hinged lifting member is suspended from the mold support frame, and released to the lifting position beneath guide roll rack lifting lugs when removal of the guide roll rack is desired.

United States Patent [19] Wagner, Jr.

[ 51 Feb. 27, 1973 REMOVABLE MOLD ASSEMBLY WITH QUICK CHANGE MECHANISM [75] Inventor: George J. Wagner, Jr., McDonald,

[52] US. Cl. ..l64/282 [51] Int. Cl. ..B22d 11/08 [58] Field of Search ..164/273 M, 273 R, 280, 281, 164/282, 283, 82, 83, 274, 279, 260, 263;

214/18 PH; 193/2 A, 2 D, 14, 15, 25, 34, 35,

l/1972 Hofmann ..l64/282 6/1972 Hofmann ..l64/282 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner.lohn S. Brown Attorney-Ralph H. Dougherty [57] ABSTRACT A continuous-casting mold support frame which has engageable and disengageable means for connecting a guide roll rack thereto to enable the latter to be quickly and easily removed and replaced. A hinged lifting member is suspended from the mold support frame, and released to the lifting position beneath 37 guide roll rack lifting lugs when removal of the guide roll rack is desired. [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2,284,503 5/1942 Williams ..l64/282 PATENTED FEB 2 7 I973 SHEET 1 OF 2 I INVENTOI? GEORGE J. WAGNER JR.

Attorney PATENTED mm 1915 3,718,177

SHEET 2 OF 2 //V l/E/V 7'0 GEORGE J. WAGNER JR.

5, Wfl 7 Attorney REMOVABLE MOLD ASSEMBLY WITH QUICK CHANGE MECHANISM This invention relates to mountings for molds used in the continuous casting of metals such as steel, and more particularly to quickly engageable and disengageable mechanisms for suspending a roll-rack therefrom.

In the continuous-casting operation, molten metal is poured into the upper end of a tubular reciprocation mold to a predetermined level while the lower end is closed by a removable block called a starter bar. After initial solidification, the casting is started downwardly under the control of pinch rolls engaging the starter bar. The equipment for mounting the mold, called an oscillator frame or mold support frame, includes stationary and movable members. Guide roll racks are mounted beneath the mold support frame. These guide roll racks may be formed in sections so that they are easily replaceable. The upper sections of course are most susceptible to damage from heat and pressure as the casting passing therethrough has only a thin solidified skin. It occasionally becomes necessary when changing the mold to remove and replace one or more sections of the roll rack at the same time. Current methods of removal necessitate dismantling each section. This is a time-consuming operation especially when the section is hot. The labor involved causes undue delays and inconvenience.

Delays in changing a roll rack section not only cause the continuous-casting apparatus to stand idle, but they also disrupt other operating areas of the mill of which the continuous casting apparatus is a part.

An object of the present invention is to minimize this problem of roll rack removal so that roll rack change time is reduced, by providing means for suspending any desired number of rack sections into a unit train for removal as a unit with a mold.

FIG. 1 is a partially broken away front elevational view of a mold support and associated roll rack equipped with my novel means for suspending the roll rack.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 with parts removed for clarity.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of an alternative suspending means.

FIG. 4 is an end view of the suspending means of FIG. 3.

One embodiment of my invention includes a moldoscillating frame having an ear 12 depending therefrom and a roll rack assembly 14 having a number of protruding lugs 15. The underside of each lug is slotted at 17. A pair of bars 19 (FIG. 2) are fastened to hinge pin 20 which is journaled in a hole in ear 12. The bars 19 are connected at the opposite end by a lifting pin 21 having a slotted head 22 external to one of the bars as shown in FIG. 2. A retaining device 23, such as a cable loop or wire hook, is suspended from the mold oscillating frame. This loop or hook is of sufficient length that when it is attached to head 22 of the lifting pin, the pin clears lug as shown in phantom lines in FIG. .1. One of such lifting lug mechanisms is attached to each corner of the mold-oscillating frame. Some clearance is provided between the lifting lug recess and the lifting pin to permit the mold frame to oscillate without disturbing the roll rack if the retaining device should be off liftinglpinhead 22,

In operation, w en it IS desired to remove the top section of the roll rack 14 simultaneously with the mold support frame 10, the cable loops 23 on all four corners are removed from the pins 21 to allow the pins to fall directly beneath the respective recesses 17 in lugs 15. When the mold support frame is lifted, the pins 21 engage lugs 15 and the top roll-rack section is removed along with the mold support frame. Any lower sections that remain coupled to the top roll rack section will be removed simultaneously as well as any equipment that remains connected to the top roll rack section or any sections coupled to it.

An alternative embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Bar 32 is fixed in frame 33 and includes a pair of hinge eyes 34. The roll rack assembly includes spaced lifting lugs 37. A single bar 39 is suspended by a hinge pin 40 which is journaled in the eyes of ear 32. The pin may be fixed to either the ear 32 or the bar 39. Bar 39 carries lifting lugs 41 having a hook engageable member 42.

This alternative quick-change mounting works in exactly the same manner as described above. Several variations from the embodiments shown and described can be utilized without departing from the scope of this invention.

It can be readily seen from the foregoing that I have invented a quickly engageable and disengageable means for coupling a guide roll rack to a continuouscasting mold support frame.

I claim:

1. In a continuous-casting machine which includes a tubular mold, a frame supporting said mold, and a roll rack supported beneath said mold, said mold and said frame being removable together from said machine by lifting them therefrom, the combination therewith of an improved mechanism for removing said roll rack from said machine, said mechanism comprising suspension means pivoted to the underside of said frame, cooperating lugs fixed to said roll rack beneath said suspension means, and means normally holding said suspension means out of engagement with said lugs, said suspension means being engageable with said lugs on release of said holding means to enable said roll rack to be lifted from said machine along with said mold and said frame.

2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said suspension means comprises a first member depending from said frame, a second member pivotally attached to said first member, and a pin attached to said second member remote from said first member engageable with said lug.

3. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a retaining member fastened to said frame and engageable with said suspension means.

4. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said pin has an annularly slotted head engageable with said holding means.

5. A mechanism as defined in claim I in which said lugs are recessed on their undersides. 

1. In a continuous-casting machine which includes a tubular mold, a frame supporting said mold, and a roll rack supported beneath said mold, said mold and said frame being removable together from said machine by lifting them therefrom, the combination therewith of an improved mechanism for removing said roll rack from said machine, said mechanism comprising suspension means pivoted to the underside of said frame, cooperating lugs fixed to said roll rack beneath said suspension means, and means normally holding said suspension means out of engagement with said lugs, said suspension means being engageable with said lugs on release of said holding means to enable said roll rack to be lifted from said machine along with said mold and said frame.
 2. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said suspension means comprises a first member depending from said frame, a second member pivotally attached to said first member, and a pin attached to said second member remote from said first member engageable with said lug.
 3. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said holding means comprises a retaining member fastened to said frame and engageable with said suspension means.
 4. A mechanism as defined in claim 2 in which said pin has an annularly slotted head engageable with said holding means.
 5. A mechanism as defined in claim 1 in which said lugs are recessed on their undersides. 